Protests On Padmavati Have Begun; Posters Burnt

Members of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, an organisation representing Rajputs, burnt posters of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming movie Padmavati here, accusing him of backtracking on a “promise” to screen the film before a panel of intellectuals before its release.

Karni Sena members also threatened to oppose the screening of the movie in theatres if the facts are distorted.

Activists of the group had in January vandalised the set of the movie at Jaigarh Fort here, alleging that the director was “distorting facts”.

Actor Deepika Padukone is playing the role of Padmavati and Ranveer Singh is playing Alaudin Khilji in the historical drama.

Narayan Singh Devrala, district president of the Karni Sena said, “It was agreed upon that the Bhansali team will screen the movie before a panel of intellectuals and historians before releasing its poster. We had asked them to screen the film in Jaipur, which did not happen. So, the posters were burnt yesterday”.

“We want the movie to release but it should have facts,” he said adding that they will oppose the screening of the movie in theatres, if the facts are distorted.

“We do not believe them as similar things have happened at the time of Jodha Akbar (movie starring Hritik Roshan). If they want to show real history then they should screen the movie,” he said.

Patron and founder of the Karni Sena, Lokendra Kalvi said that around 20-25 days ago someone from the Bhansali team wanted them to see the film “but I asked him to show it to the panel of historians and intellectuals for NOC. After which we have not heard anything from them”.

It was there in the “agreement” that the film will be shown to historians before announcing the date and poster release, he claimed.